On 26 February 2012, Hyundai delivered the first white Hyundai ix35 fuel cell vehicle at the company’s Ulsan manufacturing facility at a launch event. Hyundai is the first manufacturer to begin assembly-line production of zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered vehicles for fleet use.

“With the ix35 Fuel Cell vehicle, Hyundai is leading the way into the zero-emissions future,” said Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman, Eok Jo Kim. “The ix35 Fuel Cell is the most eco-friendly vehicle in the auto industry and proves that hydrogen fuel cell technology in daily driving is no longer a dream.”

The fuel cell vehicle will be one of 17 that have been ordered for fleet customers in the City of Copenhagen, Denmark and Skåne, Sweden. The Municipality of Copenhagen, as part of its initiative to be carbon-free by 2025, will be supplied with 15 ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles for fleet use, according to an agreement that was announced in September 2012. Two ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles will be supplied to Skåne, Sweden.

The City of Copenhagen is a partner in the EU co-funded Hydrogen in the Hydrogen Transport for European Cities (HyTEC) project which aims to create two large deployment centres of hybrid vehicles in London and Copenhagen. Both cities have taken political decisions to be early adopters of hydrogen technology and will work together in a pan-European partnership to implement this vision.

Hyundai intends to build 1,000 fuel cell vehicles by 2015 for lease to public and private fleets, primarily in Europe, where the European Union has established a hydrogen roadmap and initiated construction of hydrogen refuelling stations.

After 2015, with lowered vehicle production costs and further developed hydrogen infrastructure, Hyundai will begin manufacturing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for consumer retail sales.

Hyundai’s ix35 Fuel Cell performance is similar to the conventional model and allows fast refuelling. The car has registered over 2 million miles of road tests in real-world conditions in Europe, Korea and the U.S.

Earlier in January 2013, the ix35 Fuel Cell won the prestigious FuturAuto award at the Brussels Motor Show, while the first FC vehicle will be displayed at the 2013 Geneva Motor show.